I think everyone's in denial

[Original Stumpy]

Yeah I know all the "positives" .. young team, players missing, "character building" ... boring.
Fact is statistics have shown that if we play a good team they lap us. We play three teams going nearly as busted as us, and we lose all three in tough finishes.
I think we are also talking up way too much how better things will be when we get the big three back.
JWH Cords and Pearce won't fix up the most woeful right side defence since me and Sharpie manned the sideline precipice for the 13E's 30 years ago.
it won't fix our on-field leadership - the obvious problem we have with infield leadership was there when Pearce and Maloney played.
We need Cooper Cronk. An onfield organiser and leader will transform this team. When Hayne joins us soon, he will bring massive confidence.
Then we need a right side pig defender and loudmouth who'll build confidence in our winger to stay on his player.
Nikorima off the bench is a no-brainer. He'll soon go ballistic in that role.
Mitchell needs one more year at least away from first grade. We know he's got it, but not yet.

[milanja]

Except there will be no hayne at the roosters.

[Guest]

Nonsense post

[Headless Chook]

The three we are missing will make a massive difference when they come back. The thing we miss most is Pearce's long kicking game. We get to the 40m and Hasting is landing the ball on their 20m line, straight away the first play the ball is on their 30m and they're out of the red zone. Those extra 15-20m a kick are massive over the course of 80mins. It also means Mitchell will be picking up the ball on his 20m instead of 5m from his line surrounded by defenders. Throw in Cordner and JWH and all of a sudden we have two tough experienced campaigners who will lead the way when things get tight and we need somebody to take the tough carries out of trouble. Add to that the extra confidence the young players will get from looking across and seeing them standing in the defensive line next to them and I think we would have been 3 from 5 easily and looking in reasonable shape. I

[Original Stumpy]

Nonsense post

TCB - If memory serves you've done this before with my posts - just offered up a dumb "quip" with no substance.
How about elaborating with some semi-intelligent offering instead of embarrassing yourself?

[Arties Pie]

He is right about our right side defence though it is so so bad..

[Original Stumpy]

The three we are missing will make a massive difference when they come back. The thing we miss most is Pearce's long kicking game. We get to the 40m and Hasting is landing the ball on their 20m line, straight away the first play the ball is on their 30m and they're out of the red zone. Those extra 15-20m a kick are massive over the course of 80mins. It also means Mitchell will be picking up the ball on his 20m instead of 5m from his line surrounded by defenders. Throw in Cordner and JWH and all of a sudden we have two tough experienced campaigners who will lead the way when things get tight and we need somebody to take the tough carries out of trouble. Add to that the extra confidence the young players will get from looking across and seeing them standing in the defensive line next to them and I think we would have been 3 from 5 easily and looking in reasonable shape. I

Fair enough. Good points.
My major point is that two major areas of weakness - on field leadership and out-wide defence need urgent attention. We are leaking too many points there and allowing teams fairytale finishes because we lack on field pressure leadership

[ism22]

Right so everybody who isn't throwing chairs around and slitting their wrists is in denial.

IMO those who are chucking tanties every week and calling all our players rubbish are delusional. If you haven't watched 3 games where we've lost by less than a converted try this season (or seen ANY improvement amongst our players) you're a spinner.

Losing is cr@p and demonstrates we're not where we want to be at... but it doesn't mean YOU have to lose your shyte over it and act as if the world is ending. As Robbo said... if we keep getting better ever week, we'll do well. If we cross our fingers every week, we won't.

[Headless Chook]

I think I understand what you're saying. We lack smart leadership in pressure situations when the game is on the line. JWH and Cordner will provide leadership but they're not going to be barking orders if we need to set up for a field goal. Friend has been extremely disappointing in that respect

[Nathan Aboud]

The real positive is that St George with a full strength team are really struggling to score points, yet these kids we are blooding are doing a great drop to score more points then them!!!!

[Original Stumpy]

I think I understand what you're saying. We lack smart leadership in pressure situations when the game is on the line. JWH and Cordner will provide leadership but they're not going to be barking orders if we need to set up for a field goal. Friend has been extremely disappointing in that respect

Spot on HC. Put better than me.

[Original Stumpy]

Right so everybody who isn't throwing chairs around and slitting their wrists is in denial.

IMO those who are chucking tanties every week and calling all our players rubbish are delusional. If you haven't watched 3 games where we've lost by less than a converted try this season (or seen ANY improvement amongst our players) you're a spinner.

Losing is cr@p and demonstrates we're not where we want to be at... but it doesn't mean YOU have to lose your shyte over it and act as if the world is ending. As Robbo said... if we keep getting better ever week, we'll do well. If we cross our fingers every week, we won't.

I agree that just "going off" is wrong as well. Like putting heads in the sand and just pretending. Both ends of the spectrum - wrong.
Five losses in a row is serious. We need solutions. I enjoy discussing those solutions with smart Roosters comrades.
That's OK isn't it? Or am I a "fairweather supporter" after 45 years?

[Double]

Keep telling it how you see it Stumpy. The truth is often more bizarre than any illusion.

[Half time]

There are several "senior" players who are letting us down badly, apart from the drunk idiot halfback that is suspended at the moment.

Guerra is just terrible, I hope they release him.

Fergo is a disgrace in defence.

Friend is one of the few hookers in the comp that rarely if ever takes advantage of a quick play the ball with only 1 marker by shooting out from dummy half like most good hookers are meant to do. I know there are plenty of fans of his on this site who give the usual excuse about the amount of tackles that he does, but most other hookers do a lot of tackles as well (not quite as many as friend does but they do a lot as well yet they still manage to run with the ball from dummy half which he lacks). He also comes up with poor options a lot of the time, stupid face balls when we are on the opposition try line instead of going out back deep. Yesterday again he went down the blind side in the first half on the last tackle when nothing was on down there.

I would be keeping Mitchell in first grade, he is one of the few players that we have that actually looks like he might do something when he has the ball in his hands.

What makes you think that Hayne is coming?

[Vasco]

Friend has been disappointing. The usual penalties, silly kicks on early tackles and lack of on field direction.

Has been in first grade since 2009 so no excuses.